Manchester United won't need telling that Michael Owen is back on top form - their boss Sir Alex Ferguson witnessed it with his own eyes.

Fergie was at Anfield to see Liverpool move into the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup with a 3-0 aggregate win over Auxerre.

And the Scot will have left with the image of a clinical Owen finish, his 18th of the season, on the eve of the Worthington Cup final showdown in Cardiff on Sunday.

Owen managed to find a sense of humour after weeks of criticism over his form.

Asked if he had sympathy for his boss Gerard Houllier also being in the firing line recently, the striker said: "The manager has taken a bit of stick, so have I, so feel sorry for me as well."

Owen added: "The first half was very difficult, we didn't play too well, but in the second half we were a different team.

"After the first goal you could sense the difference, it just shows what a goal can do to your confidence.

"Everyone had a lot more confidence after that one went in."

Now Owen has helped set up a `Battle of Britain' showdown with Celtic in the last eight, and has rekindled memories of his first ever European goal.

His strike and Danny Murphy's goal six minutes later in the 2-0 UEFA Cup win over Auxerr, paved the way for Liverpool to reach the quarter-finals and a re-run of the two magnificent ties they had with Celtic in this same competition in 1997 when Owen - aged 17 - scored his first European goal.